A new study suggests that non-frequent smokers still have a higher chance of dying early than non-smokers. Smoking just once per day gives one a 64% chance of dying early. Those who smoke less than one cigarette per day are also nine times more likely to die of lung cancer. On the other hand, heavy smokers or those smoking one to 10 cigarettes per day have an 87% chance at an early death than non-smokers. They are also 12 times more likely to die of lung cancer.
Although this research is too limited as most of its repondents were older and caucasian, this is an important research as it is one of the very few researches on non-frequent smoking. Generally, smokers tend to think that if they smoke at lower rates, they’re less likely to suffer the health consequences of smoking. This study underpins health warnings that smoking, no matter how mild, is harmful to one’s health.
Vocabulary:
non-frequent – [adverb] rare
limited – [adjective] restricted
respondent – [noun] a person who answers a request for information
caucasian – [adjective] belonging to the races of people who have fairer skin
underpin – [verb] support; justify
True or False:
- Smoking once a day is still bad for the health.
- The new study says heavy smokers have a 12% chance of dying early than non-smokers.
- Non-frequent smokers are 64 times more likely to die from lung cancer.
- Those who smoke at least once a day have 69 percent chance of dying early.
- The respondents of this research were very diverse.
Defend your argument:
- Smoking is an effective stress-reliever.
- If smoking is bad to human health, the tobacco industry should be completely shut down.
- Smoking has a lot of benefits.
- If you were a tobacco company owner, how would you face the public that tags your product as a silent killer?
Express your opinion:
- Describe a world that has never known cigarettes.
- Has your opinion on smoking changed after reading the article? Why?
- Share your thoughts about this quote: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain